Author: Karakhanian Suren

Charles Aznavour celebrates his 93rd birthday today. The legendary French Armenian singer, who wrote more than 800 songs, recorded more than 1,000 of them in French, English, German and Spanish and sold over 100 million records in all, was born Chahnour Vaghinag Aznavourian on May 22, 1924, in Paris, the younger of two children born to Armenian immigrants who fled to France. His mother was a seamstress as well as an actress and his father was a baritone who sang in restaurants. Both Charles and his sister waited on tables where he performed. He delivered his first poetic recital while just a toddler. Within a few years later he had developed such a passion for singing/dancing, that he sold newspapers to earn money for lessons.

He took his first theatrical bow in the play “Emil and the Detectives” at age 9 and within a few years was working as a movie extra. He eventually quit school and toured France and Belgium as a boy singer/dancer with a traveling theatrical troupe while living the bohemian lifestyle. A popular performer at the Paris’ Club de la Chanson, it was there that he was introduced in 1941 to the songwriter Pierre Roche. Together they developed names for themselves as a singing/writing cabaret and concert duo (“Roche and Aznamour”). A Parisian favorite, they became developed successful tours outside of France, including Canada. In the post WWII years Charles began appearing in films again, one of them as a singing croupier in Goodbye Darling (1946).

Eventually Aznavour earned a sturdy reputation composing street-styled songs for other established musicians and singers, notably Édith Piaf, for whom he wrote the French version of the American hit “Jezebel”. Heavily encouraged by her, he toured with her as both an opening act and lighting man. He lived with Piaf out of need for a time not as one of her many paramours. His mentor eventually persuaded him to perform solo (sans Roche) and he made several successful tours while scoring breakaway hits with the somber chanson songs “Sur ma vie” and “Parce que” and the notable and controversial “Après l’amour.” In 1950, he gave the bittersweet song “Je Hais Les Dimanches” [“I Hate Sundays”] to chanteuse Juliette Gréco, which became a huge hit for her.

In the late 50s, Aznavour began to infiltrate films with more relish. Short and stubby in stature and excessively brash and brooding in nature, he was hardly leading man material but embraced his shortcomings nevertheless. Unwilling to let these faults deter him, he made a strong impressions with the comedy Une gosse sensass’ (1957) and with Paris Music Hall (1957). He was also deeply affecting as the benevolent but despondent and ill-fated mental patient Heurtevent in Head Against the Wall (1959). A year later, Aznavour starred as piano player Charlie Kohler/Edouard Saroyan in ‘Francois Truffaut”s adaptation of the David Goodis’ novel Shoot the Piano Player (1960) [Shoot the Piano Player], which earned box-office kudos both in France and the United States. This sudden notoriety sparked an extensive tour abroad in the 1960s. Dubbed the “Frank Sinatra of France” and singing in many languages (French, English, Italian, Spanish, German, Russian, Armenian, Portuguese), his touring would include sold-out performances at Carnegie Hall (1964) and London’s Albert Hall (1967).

Aznavour served as actor and composer/music arranger for many films, including Gosse de Paris (1961), which he also co-wrote with directorMarcel Martin, and the dramas Three Fables of Love (1962) [Three Fables of Love”) and Dear Caroline (1968) [Dear Caroline]. The actor also embraced the title role in the TV series “Les Fables de la Fontaine” (1964), then starred in the popular musical “Monsieur Carnaval” (1965), in which he performed his hit song “La bohême.”

His continental star continued to shine and Aznavour acted in films outside of France with more dubious results. While the sexy satire Candy(1968), with an international cast that included Marlon Brando, Richard Burton and Ringo Starr, and epic adventure The Adventurers (1969) were considered huge misfires upon release, it still showed Aznavour off as a world-wide attraction.  Later films included Yiddish Connection (1986), which he co-wrote and provided music, and Il maestro (1990) with Malcolm McDowell; more recently he received kudos for his participation in the Canadian-French production Ararat (2002).

Films aside, hus chart-busting single “She” (1972-1974) went platinum in Britain. He also received thirty-seven gold albums in all. His most popular song in America, “Yesterday When I Was Young” has had renditions covered by everyone from Shirley Bassey to Julio Iglesias. In 1997, Aznavour received an honorary César Award. He has written three books, the memoirs “Aznavour By Aznavour” (1972), the song lyrics collection “Des mots à l’affiche” (1991) and a second memoir “Le temps des avants” (2003). A “Farewell Tour” was instigated in 2006 at age 82 and, health permitting, could last to 2010.

In 2009 Aznavour was appointed Armenia’s Ambassador to Switzerland.

The Artsakh Defense Ministry has released the footage of suppressive actions the Defense Army undertook in response to the activeness of the Azerbaijani troops at the line of contact on the night of May 17.

The Defense Army says it possesses authentic information on the losses the Azeri troops have incurred.

The Armenian Genocide is an atrocity that has been denied by the Turkish government for nearly 100 years. The US, UK, Israeli and many other countries have not formally recognized this horrendous event either. There are even those who have only adopted this position within the last twenty years, despite the fact that the actual events took place in the early 1910s to 1923.

In the last century, two different works intending to depict the truth of the Armenian Genocide were shut down before they’d even had a chance to be made. To combat this, The Promise was mostly privately funded.

“We were fully backed by the Kerkorian Foundation. And we had an Armenian-American production company”, director Terry George said after the London screening of the film, reports.

The Kerkorian Foundation was founded by the late Kirk Kerkorian, an Armenian businessman whose intention was to fund a truthful story of the Armenian Genocide.

Because of the sensitivity of the issues The Promise seeks to bring to the screen, this film was kept quiet.

“We tried to fly under the radar as much as we could so that we didn’t have to deal with outside pressure. So we shot in Spain and Portugal and Malta. We were crucially aware of what we were trying to do, so we said, let’s get this thing made and put it out there, and then have the political debate and the conversation that we need to have.”

With The Promise, George stated that he intended to “entertain as well as educate”.

“I wanted to make something that would appeal to audiences with no particular interest in the war or the conflict that would stand on its own, because this is one of the most contentious subjects out there. Even now, they’re locking up journalists who speak up on the matter”.

This makes the character of Chris Meyers (Christian Bale) so important. George stated that by introducing an American journalist it allowed him to move into the history outside of the characters of Mikael and Ana, to see how and what information was being sent across the world around this period of time.

The presence of Meyers also allowed for the introduction of historical figures, such as Henry Morgenthau, who was Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire and published his memoirs about his dealings during that time.

Although The Promise is no doubt going to meet opposition, whether in the form of denial, or by those who see exploitation for money, or those who cannot understand the importance of this story, George doesn’t seem deterred.

“I wanted to make a film that moves and enrages, that really evokes the spirit of rage, because that’s what the events called for. If we can do that, then we’ve succeeded.”

Holy Armenian and Georgian scrolls and manuscripts from 11th-18th centuries go on display in Hong Kong, reports. 

The Word of God has been painstakingly recorded, illustrated and passed down through the ages by monks and scribes who dedicated their lives to the undertaking.

Now, for the first time in Hong Kong, an exhibition showcases a selection of bound volumes, prayer scrolls and illuminated leaves from the eastern Mediterranean that meticulously illustrate the Christian Gospel.

“Illustrious Illuminations II: Armenian and Georgian Manuscripts from the Eleventh to the Eighteenth Century”, on show at the University Museum and Art Gallery of the University of Hong Kong, in Pok Fu Lam, features illustrated Armenian manuscripts complemented by a set of Georgian Gospel leaves depicting evangelists.

“Armenian illustrated manuscripts are some of the most lavishly decorated codices of the Christian churches from the Middle East,” says Dr Florian Knothe, director of the University Museum and Art Gallery. “The Gospels are paramount among these, primarily because of the Armenian community’s respect for the sacred texts, reverting them in the same way that Greek and Russian Christians regard holy icons.”

The manuscripts have interesting stories in their own right. Such texts were carried into war by Armenian rulers and copies of the Gospels were often given sacred names. It was even believed that they held miraculous powers. The exhibition runs until June 11.

On this joyful occasion of the Annunciation of the Holy Virgin Mary, We bring our Pontifical blessings to our people and congratulate all women on the Day of Motherhood and Beauty.

Dear ones, today, from the Holy Altars of our Holy Church, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, blessings are distributed to all faithfull, all pregnant women are blessed and the angelic appeal of the Annunciation of the Holy Vrgin Mary is transferred, to be happy, for the Lord is with you (cf. Luke 1:28). For centuries, our Christian nation has been encouraged and strengthened through this radiant annunciation, and our mothers and sisters, having the perfect example of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a perfect Mother role model, have educated their children through faith, love, and devotion for the Homeland, and bring their indispensable contribution to our national- religious and social life.

Our prayers and wish is that strengthened through the mystery of this cherished Feast,our women, and mothers continue to add to their cherished efforts, for the sake of our country’s progress, our people’s welfare, and the safety and happiness of their families. May all mothers embrace their children with a joyful heart and educate them in peace and security.

The US has carried out a missile strike against a Syrian air base in response to a suspected chemical weapons attack on a rebel-held town, the BBC reports.

Fifty-nine Tomahawk cruise missiles were fired from two US Navy ships in the Mediterranean. President Donald Trump said they hit the Shayrat base that launched Tuesday’s attack.

It is the first direct US military action against Syria’s president.

The Kremlin, which backs Bashar al-Assad, has condemned the strike.

Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, called it “an act of aggression against a sovereign nation”.

On 28 March Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan received the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, personal representative of the OSCE chairman-in-office and accompanying them officials.

At the beginning of the meeting President Sahakyan congratulated newly-appointed French and American co-chairmen Stéphane Visconti and Richard Hoagland on taking the responsible positions, wishing them success in their mission.

Issues related to the Azerbaijani-Karabagh conflict settlement and recent developments were discussed during the meeting.

President Sahakyan noted that Azerbaijan kept maintaining its unconstructive stance violating the ceasefire regime and continued to pursue anti-Armenian policy.

The Head of the State highlighted the necessity of elaborating the mechanisms of maintaining ceasefire regime and revealing violations considering it among pivotal components of the peace process.

Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan reaffirmed the commitment of the official Stepanakert to the peaceful settlement of the Azerbaijani-Karabagh conflict within the frameworks of OSCE Minsk group.

On March 3^rd, 2017, “HayPost” CJSC has cancelled and put into circulation a postage stamp dedicated to the theme “175^th anniversary of Alexander Mantashian.”

The postage stamp is designed in the form of an old banknote. The postage stamp depicts the Armenian prominent businessman, benefactor and great oil magnate of the early 20^th century Alexander Mantashian.

The background of the postage stamp depicts the Armenian Church of St. John the Baptist situated near the Champs Elysees in Paris and the facade of the building of the Union of Armenian Artists of Tbilisi (now Tbilisi Academic Theater named after Rustaveli) which were built by the funds donated by Alexander Mantashian. After the construction of the Armenian Church in paris A. Mantashian was awarded the Order of the Legion of Honor.

The nominal value of the postage stamp is 380 AMD. The author of the postage stamp is the designer of “HayPost” CJSC Vahagn Mkrtchyan.

The postage stamp was cancelled by the RA Minister of Transport, Communication and Information Technologies Vahan Martirosyan, President of the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen of Armenia Arsen Ghazaryan, President of the Union of Philatelists of the RA Hovik Musayelyan and the Acting Chief Executive Officer of “HayPost” CJSC Haik Avagyan.

Date of issue: March 03, 2017

Designer: Vahagn Mkrtchyan

Printing house: Cartor, France

Size: 40,0 x 30,0 mm

Print run: 40 000 pcs